Spout closure



p 4, 1956 H- s. DARLINGTON, JR 2,761,598

SFOUT CLOSURE Filed Nov. 25, 1952 United States Patent SPOUT CLOSURE Henry S. Darlington, Jr., Media, Pa., assignor to A. H. Wirz, Inc., Chester, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 25, 1952, Serial No. 322,521

1 Claim. (Cl. 222--541) The present invention relates to spout closures for cans and other containers adapted to contain fluid.

A purpose of the invention is to co-mold a cap and a spout closure so that the cap is initially connected to the spout closure, desirably at its base, and can be broken off and applied to the spout.

A further purpose is to mold a spout closure suitably of polyethylene which has a co-molded connection at the base to a cap and has an initial co-molded plug on the end of the spout which when cut off exposes an externally tapered spout portion which can be engaged by an internally tapered portion on a cap.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claim.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the spout closure of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an axial section of the spout closure of the invention as initially installed on the container.

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in axial section showing the breaking or cutting of the plug at the end of the spout and the breaking of the connection to the cap.

Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in axial section showing the cap applied to the end of the spout.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and refern'ng to the drawings.

There has been considerable difliculty in obtaining a satisfactory spout closure for containers of lighter fluid, oil and other liquids. Metal spout closures have been used employing threaded caps, but these are subject to difliculty through marring of the end of the spout or of the threads so that it is difficult to reclose. Other attempts have resulted in complex and expensive structure.

In accordance with the present invention a very simple spout closure is produced of polyethylene or similar elastomer, with an integral comolded plug on the spout -and an integral co-molded connection to a cap which can be broken ofl and used to close the end of the spout after opening.

The device of the invention comprises a base 20 having an annular flange 21 adapted to engage a seal on the lip of a can, bottle, or other container. An annular internal rib 22 is suitably provided to grip over the usual head on the neck of the container, and the inside of the base has a sealing ring 23 adapted to en gage and seal against the end of the neck ring of the container.

At the bottom of the base an integral co-molded connection 24 suitably produced by injection molding extends out radially at one side and integrally connects with a co-molded cap 25 which has a hollow tubular side wall interiorly tapering at 26 from a large end near the bottom to a small end near the top. The cap has an end wall 27.

At the middle of the base, a tubular spout 28 extends axially away from the base and has a suitable tapering internal bore 30 which terminates at 31 in an integral co-molded closure plug 32 suitably of reduced diameter beyond the bore to form a thin break-0E or cut-off portion 33 having a thickness approximately ,4 inch, and a length approximately 1 inch.

Toward the base with respect to the break-off or cutoff portion 33 and the plug 32, the outside of the spout is tapered at 34 from a small diameter near the end of the spout to an increasing diameter toward the base to engage and seal on the inside tapering surface 26 of the cap.

In operation the base is fastened on the neck ring of the container and the container is sold with its contents. When the user desires to open the container, he breaks or cuts off the plug at 33 as shown in Figure 4 and opens the spout. He also breaks or cuts the connection 24 at 35 as shown in Figure 4, thus leaving the cap 25 free. When it is desired to close the spout, the cap is inserted over the end and pushed on to make a forced fit.

During the period of installing the spout closure on the container, shipping the container with the spout closure sealed and storage by the user, the cap is firmly held at the base of the spout closure and is not likely to be lost. In fact the cap can desirably remain attached to the base of the spout closure even after the spout has been opened, until it is desired to close the spout.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A closure for a container for liquids comprising a continuous co-molded liquid-impermeable flexible polyethlene structure having in the center thereof a spout having walls forming a long upwardly tapering tube, the outer surface of said spout contracting near the top of said tube to form a projection, thin walled at that point and at a higher point extending completely across the top of the tube to close it oif, the maximum diameter of the projection being smaller than the minimum diameter of the rest of the spout, a base integral with and extending outwardly of the spout and then downward in a flange having an interior rib to form a snap-on cover over a liquid receptacle, and a necklike extension integral with and extending outward from a point on the flange, and a tapering cap having an interior of a size corresponding to the top of the tube, said cap being integral with the neck and detachable by the breaking thereof.

Shonnard Ian. 1, 1946 Ryberg Nov. 6, 1951 

